Sorry for Lack of Activity

Hello, friends.  I'm sorry to be away from crafting and blogging for awhile.  A combination of events I am responsible for and a string of doctor's visits and tests for a suspicious 'mass'  seen in an ultrasound have kept me very busy.
I hope to be back to crafing and blogging soon.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Tissue Box Cover for a Young Girl

Welcome.  I've decided to get back into cricut challenges again.  The challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is to make a Kid's theme project and this tissue box cover I just finished is just right for it.

 

The girl figures were cut from the Cricut Create a Friend cartridge, at 3 1/2 inches.  The corners on the top were cut at 1 inch from the Picturesque cartridge.  The vertical edges were made using a border punch on both sides of a 1 1/2 inch strip of paper.

The basic box was made from medium weight, acid-free cardstock which I purchased through Marcos Paper.

These boxes take a good bit of time but they come out so nice.  I also made one (minus the lace) for a young boy with sports figures from the same cartridge.

 

Thanks for checking it out.

Happy Creating.

Rae Ann

Some Art Nouveau Get Well Cards

Hello!  Sorry I missed Monday but its been a crazy weekend.  As I promised 2 weeks ago, I've been trying out cuts from my Cricut cartridges that I haven't used before.  There are some interesting ones in the Art Nouveau cartridge and I needed Get Well Cards.  Here they are.

The design was cut at 3 inches.  The square at 2 1/2.  It looked better when positioned in the diamond than just boxing the design.  There are others to try in this cartridge, too.  They make great general patterns for a variety of sentiments.

The sentiment was made from the Paper Lace 2 cartridge, cut at 1 1/4 inches.  I made a bunch of them and it took some time because each of the white letters is cut separately and needs to be placed on the backgound.  I love how they look.

Thanks for stopping by. 
Happy Creating. 
Rae Ann

A Sparkling Birthday Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome to our challenge week.  Create a birthday card, layout, or paper project that contains sparkle or glistter.
Here's what I did.

'Sparkly' made me think fancy so I decided a formal occasion would be the way to go.  I used a pre-cut center stem card that I bought at the Paper Cut booth at a show.  It makes it so easy.  I used my Cricut and several cartridges to make this.
Paper lace 2 -- the phrase 'Happy Birthday', cut at 1 1/2 inches;
Paper Doll Dress Up -- the top hat, cut at real size 1 1/2 inches and the gloves, cut at real size 1 inch.
Simply Charmed --the champagne bottle, cut at 2 1/2 inches; the glasses cut at 1 1/4 inches; balloons cut at 1 1/2 and 2 inches; and a bunch of confetti, cut at 2 inches.

Materials used included a glittery paper from the DCWV Safari Kids pack, and Ranger's Diamond Glitter Glue pn the balloons and confetti.  For my solid papers I like to use the Recollection brand papers from Michael's.  A couple of rhinestones finish it off.

It took a while because I had to re-cut things to get sizes I liked, but I had fun making it.

Please, add your sparkly project to our challenge at Exploring Cricut and More.  We love to see the variety of responses to our theme.

Thsnks for stopping by.
Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Another Monday for Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome!  I've been trying to use cuts that I've never used before from my Cricut cartridges.  As I thought about it, I realized that the Forever Young cartridge has a lot of stylized flower cuts that I've never made use of.  Here's what I did.

The flowers were cut at 1, 1 1/2, and 2 inches from the Forever Young cartridge.  The sentiment was cut at 1 1/4 inches from the Cricut Paper Lace 2 cartridge.  I really like the look of this and also the 'Happy Birthday'.  The corner in the lower left is my favorite from the Cricut Picturesque cartridge, cut at 1 inch.  The striped background piece was created with an Impression Obsession cover-a- cartd stamp.  I like how the card turned out.  I think I'll made more like this.

I'll have another card made from cuts I hadn't used before when I post my next blog in 2 weeks.  Don't forget; next week will be another chanllenge at Exploring Cricut and More

In the meantime, keep checking in with the daily design team projects for inspiration.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Back to School Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome to this week's challenge--Make a card, layout, or paper project using any cutting machine, and use  a 'back-to-school' theme.

I used the Cricut Create-a-Friend cartridge for my card.

I've fallen in love with this cartridge.  All of the figures come out so cute and they are easy to assemble.  I think I cut most at 2 1/2 inches, the boy at 2 inches.
The paper, which looks like the kind that was used to practice cursive, was in a pack of cardstock I have called Celebrations.

Let us see your version of a back to school project at Exploring Cricut and More and please continue to visit each day to see what our design team has to offer.  Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Another Birthday card for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello, again.  This week I've been trying out my new Cricut Happily Ever After cartridge.  I thought one of the fairy godmothers and this sentiment stamp would be a perfect match.

I cut the fairies at 3 1/2 inches.  The white banner came from Cricut's Small Talk and Frames cartridge.  The stars were in the Cricut Create a Friend cartridge with the little ballerina.
I still have one more fairy to do, a blue one.  I don't know which I like more; they're all so cute.

Inside is a simple "Happy Birthday" cut from the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge.  I didn't realize I used so many different cartridges until I started this list.  It's great to find the little accessories in different cut collections

Please continue to stop by Exploring Cricut and More  for daily inspirations from our design team.  And, join us next Monday for another challenge.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to the Exploring Cricut and More Christmas in July Blog Hop.  If you are following the Hop you should have arrived from Donna'a blog, www.kindredcreations.blogspot.com.   If you just happened by and would like to atart at the beginning go to Exploring Cricut and More for the Blog Hop list.

 

The theme, as I said, is Christmas in July.  There is blog candy available for some lucky winner along the way if you are a follower of Exploring Cricut and More.

 

I wanted to make a shaped card for my project.  Except for the words, everything was cut at 5 inches.  The papers came from a Recollections pack called 'Botanical Noel' which I bought at Michaels.

 

I used the following Cricut cartridges to made this card:  Small Talk, Frames and Tags for the background shape;  Winter Wonderland for the snowflake; and, 3 Birds on Parade for the words.  (I ended up cutting the words once at 1 1/4 inches and once at 1 inch and using the words of similar size for this card.  Originally, one is smaller than the other.)

There is a crystal rhinestone in the center and I added silver lines along the snowflake to glitz it up.  I wish it showed up better in the photo because it looks great.

 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the blog hop.  Your next stop is Emily at www.emilyqueenofallthingscrafty.blogspot.com.

 

Happy Creating

Rae Ann







A Cars Centerpiece for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello, again.  After the centerpiece I made with the Cricut Best of Pixar cartridge I thought of how cute the Disney Pixar Cars would look.  So, now I own that cartridge, too.  Here's what I made.

 

 

I try to use 4 inches as the size of the cuts for centerpieces (I have a Personal Cricut and the maximum cut is 5 1/2..  I think I had to reduce McQueen (the red one) to 3 1/2 inches because it cut so wide.  The road signs are 2 inches.  Some ultr-tiny pieces didn't get into the cut but it's not possible to see where and sometimes a fine marker can make up for it.  I love how this cme out.

 

Like the previous one, the long lollipop sticks come 20 to a pack at Michael's.  The pail and curly stuff came from the dollar store.

 

( I also made an Alice in Wonderland and a Nemo centerpiece.  These are so much fun to do.)

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Please, visit Exploring Cricut and More for new ideas each day.

 

Happy Creating.

Rae Ann



Crafter's Choice Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome to another challenge week.  This time it's totally up to you.  The only condition, besides using a cutting machine, is to use two cuts in your project (card, layout, or paper project).

I've been searching the web for inspiration and saw the centerpieces that are made with die-cuts.  I just got the Cricut Best of Pixar cartridge and I thought this would be a great project for the Incredibles.

.The figures are cut at 4 inches, except for Dash; I think I did him at 3 1/2 inches.  The sticks were bought at Michael's.  They are long lollipop sticks from the cake and candy section.  The glitzy red is a bow I bought at the dollar store.  Also at the dollar store were bags of marbles in those net bags.  I just dropped a bag in the bucket (also a bargain) and eased the sticks through the netting and between the marbles.  The weight of the marbles adds to the stability, too.

This was a fun project and, like the tissue box cover, I have so many other ideas of what I can do to make really cute (and cheap) decorations.  With so many cricut cartridges the possibilities are endless.

Please share the project you choose to make with us at Exploring Cricut and More.  Visit each day to see what our design team has been up to.

Thanks for stopping by and, as always, Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

My Tissue Box Cover for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello!  Months ago I created some Alice in Wonderland cuts from the Cricut Disney Classics cartridge.  I said then that I would probably use them on a tissue box cover.  I FINALLY DID IT!  It seemed to take forever to make the cover and to cut the background sheets and the edgings.  But, now that I've done it I can go through the process fairly easily.

I used the directions and measurements from splitcoaststampers/.  That is a super website for all kinds of instruction.
The cuts from Cricut's Disney Classic cartridge (say that fast) range from 3.5 inches to 4 inches.  For the vertical edges I cut a strip of paper 1.5 inches wide and  used an edge punch on both sides of it.  I scored down the middle and folded it so it would 'hug' the corners of the bos.
On top of the box I used the top of an actual tissue box to trace the oval opening and cut it out by hand.  (Now I have an oval cutter.)  In the corners I put 1 inch corner designs that I made with the Cricut Picturesque cartridge.  I had the lace in my stash.

Now that I made this one I have all kinds of ideas.  Imagine a box with animals from Create a Critter for a toddlers room or the heads of princesses for a little girl.  There are so many possible figures in the Everyday Paper Doll cartridge - a pirate theme, sports. ...  Don't forget the Pixar cars for boys.
Oh, if only I had enough time.
I hope you like this and might try to do one of your own. It's addicting.
.
Please continue to check in at Exploring Cricut and More to see what the rest of the design team has been doing.
Happy Creating

Rae Ann

Vacation Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome to this week's challenge.  Create a card, layout, or paper project with a vacation theme.  Include at least one sign ( like Stop, Gas, etc.)

Here's my ideas.

I saw this car in the Cricut Mickey Mouse and Friends cartridge and loved it.  I cut it at 3 inches (I think).  The sign was cut from the same cartridge and at the same size.  The suitcase came from the Cricut Summer Celebrations cartridge.  I think I cut it at 1 1/4 inches.
Since they're going to the airport I thought some destinations could be suggested and pulled out my old stamps - Poland, Italy, and Netherlands. (Never been there myself.)

It will be wonderful to see your interpretation of our challenge at Exploring Cricut and More.  Continue to check in each day and see what our design team has to offer.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

A Cute and Simple Get Well Card for Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome!

I wanted to do a get well card for a friend who has been very kind to me.  I call her 'my angel' so this is what I did and I'd like to share it with you.

 

The bear is cut at 3 inches from Cricut's Teddy Bear Parade cartridge.  I left out all the little do-dads, cutting only the 2 pieces needed for the dress and the wings.  I embossed the wings and added gold glitter to the raised areas and along the edge and, of course, added a halo.

The frame is cut from Cricut's Small Talk and Frames cartridge, cut at 5 inches.

I have a stamp I used for the sentiment inside:
          May God who understands each need, who listens to every prayer, bless you
           and keep you in His tender loving care.

The bear makes me smile everytime I look at her.  It was such a simple card to make.  I hope you like it, too.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Wedding Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome to this week's challenge.  Make a card, layout, or papercraft with a wedding theme, using only black, white, and a splash of one color.

 

 

For this card I used the Cricut cartridges Sweethearts and Picturesque.

 

The heart was cut at four inches.  It has diamond glitter (hard to see in the photo) all around the edge.  The ribbon on the bells has it, too.  The corners, from Picturesque, were cut at 1 inch.

 

Please join our challenge with your project.  Share it at Exploring Cricut and More and check in everyday to see what our design team has been up to.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Creating.

Rae Ann

A Masculine Birthday Card for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello, again.  Mondays come around so quickly; time is really flying.

For my card today I used Cricut's Small Talk and Frames cartridge and the Suburbia cartridge.

I used the Cover a Card Happy Birthday stamp that I bought from Impression Obsession and thought a frame would add to the look.  I used 5 inches for the frame.  The gentleman from Suburbia (I think I cut him at 3 inches) fits just right leaning in the frame; I think this makes a good-looking masculine card.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep visiting Exporing Cricut and More for inspiration and don't forget- there will be another challenge next Monday.
Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Father's Day Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Is it June already?  Time seems to be flying.  For this week's challenge create a card, layout, or paper craft that celebrates Father's Day.

For this card I used the Cricut Father's Day cartridge; I think I cut the truck at 3 inches..

The background was created with Impression Obsession's cover-a-card stamp (Thin lines), stamped in 2 directions.  The sentiment came from them also in the Greetings Galore set.

The Father's Day cartridge only makes 2 cuts to create this truck.  I glued it down on gray paper and cut around it by hand to make the tires opaque.  I used a gold gel pen in the headlights and added silver glitter to the tire hubs and the grill.  It really made a difference.

Inside I printed a sentiment that said,"Although this day was made to honor you it can never hold the love and thanks that you deserve."

Enter your Father's Day creation at Exploring Cricut and More.  We love getting inspiration from you, too.  Please, continue to visit every day.

Happy creating,
Rae Ann

A Useful Sketch for Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome.  A couple of years ago I saw a YouTube clip about making a composition notebook into a craft inventory book.  I adapted it and included sketches and samples of cards I liked (my own portable pinterest).  As I looked through it I decided to use one of the sketches to create an easy backdrop for all kinds of cards.  Here's the Get Well card I made.

 



For this sketch you need 3 compatible papers - here it's the one with circles, the one with varied stripes and the solid across the bottom.  Any kind of 'divider' can be used between the top and bottom - a ribbon, an edged strip, even a straight strip.  A scalloped circle, which I cut from Cricut's Forever Young cartridge, looks good in an accent color.  The inner circle and the strip seem to look good when they are the same color.

At this point, any focus design and any sentiment can turn your card into the theme of your choice.  I cut a spray of flowers from the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge in white and used markers to color the flowers and greens.  Since this greeting was so centered I added the bling to fill in the space.

This is a great recipe for lovely cards.

I hope you like this idea.  Please continue to visit Exploring Cricut and More each day for ideas from our design team and, don't forget, there will be another challenge next Monday.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Here Comes Summer Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welocme to a fun challenge.  Create a card, layout, or paper project that celebrates summer.  Include the colors red and blue.

My first thought was something related to swimming but then I looked through my newly purchased Cricut Summer Celebrations cartridge.  I live quite near an amusement park that gets jammed filled in the summer so this was perfect.

The riders were cut at 3 1/2 inches and came out around 4 inches when I added the shadow.  The background coaster was cut at 2 1/2 inches and still came out great even though it is so intricate.  Since I wanted it to be background I didn't include the shadow and other little pieces for that cut.  The phrase 'Happy Summer' came from another scene in that cartridge.  Sorry, I don't remember which cartridge I used for the clouds. ( It might have been in the same one.)

Overall, I am very happy with this card.

Please, add your creation to our challenge at Exploring Cricut and More.  We love to see other ideas for the same theme.
And, please stop by each day for samples from our design team.

As always, Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

A Bon Voyage Card at Exploring Cricut and More

Hello, again.  My doctor takes the most interesting vacations.  This year he's going to China so I made him this card with the message 'Bon Voyage' stamped inside.

Both cuts came from Cricut's cartridge, Pagoda.  I cut the pagoda at 4 inches and trimmed the edge of the roofs with gold glitter.  I love this Panda.  He was cut at 3 inches.  I ran off one of the branch sprays in the cartridge in white, selected a piece and colored it eith markers to make the flower.  A tiny rhinestone is in its center.

The doctor loved it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Visit Exploring Cricut and More every day to see all the design team ideas.  And, join us there next Monday for another fun challenge.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Mother's Day Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome!  This week's challenge is to create a card, layout, or paper project with a Mother's Day theme.  Include at least one ribbon.

For this card I used Cricut''s Suburbia cartridge for the silhouette and the Cindy Loo Cartridge for the curly decorations.  I had cut out an oval for another project using the George and Basic Shapes cartridge and this piece was left, so I used it.  Some glitter gle accents the oval and fills the holes in the edging.  My ribbon is the little bow.
The stamp is part of a set called 'Greeings Galore" which I purchased from Impression Obsession.
I don't recall the brand of edger this is; I cut it too wide so the left-over pink strip broke it up and added just the right visual balance.

Please join our challenge with your Mother's Day creations at Exploring Cricut and More.  We love to see your ideas.  And, drop by everyday for samples from our design team.

Thanks fo atopping by.  Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Teen Cards for Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome back.  Today I have two cards I made from the Cricut Paper Doll Teen Scene cartridge; each figure was cut at 4 inches..

To put this handsome guy in context I used an idea from the All Sports cartridge to place the green 'field' on the card.  Then, I found the accessories I wanted in the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge.  In the Teen Scene cartridge the player is wearing his helmut.  I decided to have him holding it so his face could be seen.  A birthday sentiment is inside.

The pretty miss this is intended for is into fashion so I thought I'd just put a couple of things to represent that.  I used the Forever Young cartridge to create the tiny purse.  The sunglasses in that cartridge came out way too large so I went to Everyday Paper Dolls and found eyeglasses for one of the outfits and that worked out just fine.
Because I hadn't used a background paper the card was looking very dull - somethng missing - so I added the dashed lines around the edge and then around the squares as well.  It made a big difference.

I haven't used the Teen cartridge much but it worked out very well for these cards.  Thanks for stopping by to see them.  Take a peak at Exploring Cricut and More each day for ideas and inspiration and join us next Monday for another challenge.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

It's A Spring Thing Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

I hope everyone enjoyed this weekend.  Today we are celebrating the arrival of spring with an "It's a Spring Thing" Challenge.  Make a card, layout, or paper project that celebrates spring and contains at  least one flower.
I used the Cricut and the Freshly Picked  cartridge to design this step card.

The fencing was a leftover cut that I hadn't used from the Pagoda cartridge.  The words were modified from the Simply Charmed cartridge.  I cut out the phrases, "welcome little one" and "happy thanksgiving".  I used the welcome but contructed the word "spring" from the other phrase.

The tulip row was cut from the flower box in the Freshly Picked cartridge.  I cut it at 2 inches and sliced off most of the box.  The back row is cut from the parsley and sage designs.  They were each in pots, which were sliced off.  I used 3 sage cuts and 1 parsley cut for added greens.

I like how it turned out.  It really makes me think spring.

Please, share your spring project with us at Exploring Cricut and More' we love to see your creativity.

Take care.  Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Another Easter Card for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello!  I saw a cute Easter card on the internet that used Thumper as the bunny in an Easter card and I loved it.  He is so cute.  I decided to come up with my own version.
I am still a cricut user;  Thumper came from the Disney Classics cartridge and the flowers, grass, hills, and even the egg, were accessories I found in the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge.

In this pose he looks like he's pushing the egg or holding it up.  I think it came out really cute.

I think I cut Thumper at 3 inches and the egg at 2 1/2 inches, real size.  The egg was an accessory to the animal costumes. The flowers were with the hula girl.  Since 1 inch real size would've been too large I imagined that I was cutting a girl at 4 inches and the flower accessory came out like this.  The patterned paper I found in my stash made a great egg.  I couldn't resist adding some sparkle to jazz things up.
Thanks for stopping by and please continue to check out Exploring Cricut and More every day for design team samples and on every other Monday for a fun challenge.

May all of you be blessed this spring and re-vitalized in this time of New Life.
Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Easter's Here at Exploring Cricut and More

Finally, some days that feel like spring.  For today's challenge we are asked to make an Easter card, layout, or paper project that contains at least one frame and one embellishment like a brad, jewel, etc.  I made an Easter card before I read the requirements so that one will be posted next week.  Here's my card for this challenge.

I used the Cricut and the Simply Charmed cartridge to create these adorable chicks.  They were cut at 1 1/2 inches.  I just used a fine tip marker to dot their eyes instead of trying to poke out a circle that small.
That background around the chicks was cut at 2 inches high and the blue behind that was cut at 2 1/2 inches.  The vertical frame was cut 1 1/4 inches wide for the inner strip and 1 3/4 inches for the blue.
The Happy Easter sentiment is from a pack called Greetings Galore which I bought from Impression Obsession at the scrapbooking show that was here recently.  The patterned papers were created with background stamps I bought from them, too. 
They had a great demonstrator showing how to overlap colors and background stamps to do all kinds of great things.  If you're interested, take a look - Go to You Tube and enter Impression Obsession Cover A Card for some demos.    They have over 180 stamp backgrounds that can be mix and matched.  I might not have to buy patterned paper anymore.

Please join us this week at Exploring Cricut and More with your entry to our Easter themed challenge.  I look forward to seeing you there.
Happy Creating,
Rae Ann

Art Nouveau for Exploring Cricut and More

Hello.  Is spring finally here?  These flowery cards fit right in.

I enjoy making cards to order.  For these I was asked to make cards for a woman who loves pansies and hummingbirds. They are both A2 size cards and were made with Cricut's Art Nouveau cartridge.

I  placed a small jewel in the center of each pansy to add sparkle.   I did a little shaping to the petals to add some dimension.
In the first card, I printed the sentiment on white cardstock before I ran it through the embosser.  Some pop dots are used for depth.
 The second card uses the design as it is appears in the booklet.  A touch of distress ink around the edges makes a big difference. and produces a finished look.  I hope you like them.

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating.
Rae Ann

Crafter's Choice Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Welcome, again.  For this crafter's choice challenge at least one pattern and solid cardstock must be used.  A sentiment stamp I haven't used was the inspiration for this card.  With a sentiment about wishes I had to make a genie.

The card itself is pre-cut and scored from The Paper Cut, a vendor that was here at the Heirloom Productions RubberStamping and Paper Arts Festival last weekend.  The genie and her accessories are all from Cricut's Paper Doll Dress Up.  You can't see her cute bare midriff because I folded her arm to make it look more like she is holding the lamp.  She was cut at 3 inches; the genie lamp was cut at 2 inches; and, the genie's bottle was cut at 2 1/2 inches.  The cityscape was cut at 1 1/4 inches.
Other Cricut cuts were from Paper Lace 2 (the rounded rectangle behind the genie), designs from Picturesque (cut at 1 inch) and the sentiment base (cut at 1 inch) from Phrases.

I added some gold glitter to her hair decoration and her necklace, some diamond glitter to the bottle and 2 little purple gems to the sentiment.

Even with the card all ready to fold it took a bit of time to put this together.  It was fun.

Please join our challenge with YOUR CHOICE (with at least one pattern paper and cardstock) and post it at Exploring Cricut and More.  Visit everyday to see all the great ideas our team comes up with.  I look forward to seeing your entry.
Thanks for stopping by.
Rae Ann

Happy St. Patrick's Day / Exploring Cricut

Hello!  Of course I HAD to do a St. Patrick's something since today's the day.  This weekend was the Heirloom rubber stamping and paper arts festival that comes once a year.  They always have an ATC (Artist Trading Card) contest; this time the theme is "Luck of the Irish".  So, that's my project, an ATC - which is a card that is 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches, like a baseball card.  I used Simply Charmed.

Sorry if it's a little fuzzy.  The print is the definition of luck - n. forturne, good.
I cut the rainbow and pot of gold at 2 1/2 inches, then cut off the rainbos and turned it sideways to go where I wanted it to go.  I used the real size 1 inch to make the pot for the end of the rainbos.  The leprachaun was cut at 2 !/2 inches also.
I used a sandcastle stamp I have and cut out just enough of it to create a castle in the background.  I have 3 little pieces of bling to be the gold in the pot.  I had fun making this.

I hope you all enjoy your day.  Please, keep visiting Exploring Cricut and our great design team throughout the week.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

St. Patrick's Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More

Hi!  I'm back.  It's taken a while.  It really felt good to be creating again.
For this challenge we were asked to create a card, layout, or paper project for St. Patrick's Day, including at least one shamrock.

I didn't want to do a leprechaun again so I started looking for a copy of the Irish Blessing, "May the road...".  Instead, I found this one which I really like.
The rainbow and pot were cut on my Personal Cricut at 2 1/2 inches from Simply Charmed.  The shamrocks are 1 inch and they came from Paper Doll Dress Up.
Please, join our challenge this week and show us your creativity at Exploring Cricut and More.

Have a great week and happy creating.
Rae Ann

Sorry I've been away

Hello.  February always seems to be the month that germs catch up to me.  I've been ill for almost two weeks now but things are looking up.  I expect to be back here with another project for the challenge on March 10th.  Until then, please continue to visit Exploring Cricut and the other designers on our great team.
Take care.
Rae Ann

Birthday Card for a Friend at Exploring Cricut

Hello, everyone.  We're not quite dug out of the snow here, What about you?

The blog hop last Monday was great.  The winner of my blog candy is Liz O.  I left a comment on your blog asking for contact info.

My apologies for a slightly blurry picture this week.  I was in a rush because I made this for a friend's birthday and it was sealed up and sent before I checked the image.  (It looked good in the camera.)

I love this little Queen of Hearts from Teddy Bear Parade.  She looks so regal when done up in the right colors.  The bear was cut at 3 inches.  I planned to cut the letters for the sign but it was too much for a standard A2 card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2).

Again, my apologies, but I hope you get the idea.  Thanks to all who visited our blog hop.  Please, continue to visit Exploring Cricut and the design team members.  We love when you share comments.

Take care and happy creating.
Rae Ann

Valentine's Day Blog Hop at Exploring Cricut

Welcome to our blog hop and challenge.  You should have arrived here from Faith's blog.  In honor of Valentine's Day, the challenge this week is to make a card, layout, or paper craft with a valentine theme and use at least one jewel.

For my card I used the candy heart cut from Simply Charmed and the young lovers from Suburbia.  This is a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch card.  The small size doily makes a great bact piece for the silhouette.

Please lease a comment by Sunday, Feb. 16.  I will be giving away some little goody to one of you who stops by.

After enjoying all the ideas our team has come up with, create your own card and enter it in our challenge at Exploring Cricut.

If you arrived from somewhere else and want to join us at the beginning of our hop go to Sharon's blog. Otherwise, your next stop is Emily.

 

Blog Hop Schedule

Sharon http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com

Donna http://wwwkindredkreations.blogspot.com

Faith http://scrapbookerphd.blogspot.com

Rae Ann http://joyinart.blogspot.com

Emily http://emilyqueenofallthingscrafty.blogspot.com

Annette http://mymindsdustbunnies.blogspot.com

Michelle N http://justanutterpapercrafter.blogspot.com

Jen http://javajencreations.blogspot.com

Julie http://mylittlecorner-julie518.blogspot.com

Michelle S http://cricutcrazyscrapper.blogspot.com

Liz http://unikbyyes.blogspot.com

Rosa http://enjoyingthebug.blogspot.com

Diane http://happyscrapperdiane.blogspot.com

 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Have fun creating and Happy Valentine's Day.

Rae Ann

 

Bookmark Ideas for Exploring Cricut

Hello, everyone.  I hope the winter is being kind to you, wherever your are.
For today's blog I have 2 bookmarks I made from the Art Nouveau cartridge.  I love this cut but wasn't sure what I could use it for.  This is perfect.

Changing the papers and colors gives an entirely new look.  I made the base of the bookmark from a manila folder so it is nice and sturdy.
Thanks for visiting.  Please continue to visit Exploring Cricut each day for ideas from all of our design team.  Come for the challenge and blog hop next Monday, too.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Another Challenge at Exploring Cricut

Welcome to another challenge at Exploring Cricut.  For this challenge, include 2 cricut cuts, some  design paper and the color blue in a card, layout, or paper project..

I used the Destinations cartridge for the bridge (cut at 2 1/2 inches) and the Art Deco cartridge for the ship (cut at 3 inches).  This is a regular A2 card (4 1/4 x b 1/2 inches).  I just did some free-hand cuts to simulate land to balance the design.
The design sheet is the sky; it's amazing how a fancy pattern can resemble clouds when it is used in a background like this.
The blues are obvious.  I  added some gold glitter glue to the ship and some diamond glitter glue for waves on the water.
I think this is my subconscious wish to get away from this cold weather (lol).

Share your response to this challenge at Exploring Cricut.  We love to see your creations.  Visit each day to see what design team members have done.

Happy creating.  Keep warm.
Rae Ann

A Retirement Card for my day at Exploring Cricut

I've been trying to make cards I haven't done before.  I've never done a retirement card so I looked on the internet for ideas and found a saying I liked.  This is also my first pop-up card.

I used the lounge chair from the Father's Day cartridge, the clouds and arrow from Graphically Speaking, and the letters from my new Paper Lace 2.  I'm really happy with it.  I hope you like it, too.
Have a great day.
Rae Ann